Taking Bets: Week 6 - Big SEC Lines

TD proves his worth as both a sports writer and sports show host (Takin' On Sports plug goes here) by keeping his record above .500, but Blaine is bleeding money. Check in with The Alabama Take every Friday afternoon to see what our bettors think are the sure wins football. Then go the opposite direction with your personal bets!

[caption id="attachment_8289" align="alignnone" width="3200"] MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 09: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings huddles with his team in the first half of the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)[/caption]

2022 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 8-11 (Week Five: 2-2)
TD Wood: 10-9 (Week Five: 2-2)

Blaine Duncan
Somewhere, Caleb R. Johnson is enjoying himself because of my losses. He's that sort of ass. But I got to tell y'all, I'm pretty baffled by this week's lines.   

Tennessee (-3) at LSU -- LSU is 3-0 against the spread this season at home, but here's the deal: streaks get broken, and this game's at 11:00 in the morning. That LSU Tiger fanbase won't be as rowdy as a night game in Death Valley would be. I'm not totally sold on the Volunteers, but I think they have the talent to win this one. 

Auburn (+29.5) at Georgia -- Holy shit, what a line. That has to be some sort of record for two SEC schools not named Vandy who are playing each other. Georgia didn't exactly shine against Missouri, and Auburn are lucky only to be 1-1 these last two weeks. Thirty points, though? Plus, how about this lil' factoid from ESPN: Georgia is 0-5 against the spread in their last five games as a home favorite. Know what that means, right?! I'll lose.        

Oregon State (-7) at Stanford -- What the hell is up with the Cardinal? I remember not too long ago when David Shaw was a top-notch coach, but they've been nonexistent in the last few years. Now add the fact that they've done horribly against the spread this season (0-4) and the Beavers have been one of my all-time favorites to bet on -- they're 4-1 against the spread this year, too -- and I'm counting on Oregon State to get a solid win in California this weekend. PAC-12 at night!

NFL Game of the Week: Bears at Vikings (-7.5) -- I'm going against the Bears two weeks in a row, and hear me out: that computer FPI stuff says that the Vikings win about 82% of the time by about 10--11 points. Computers know what they're doing. I trust computers. That movie The Terminator worked out well in the end. 

***

TD Wood
Three straight 2-2 weeks ain't exactly rolling in the dough, but I'm ok with it considering the weather played a big part in keeping that Bills/Ravens game under the total. Tough slate of games this week, which should make for great viewing.

Friday Night Special: Colorado State at Nevada (-3.5) -- The state of Colorado is going through it this football season. The Broncos are trash, Air Force is on probation, and both the Rams and Buffaloes are winless so far this season (and this is the third straight year without the Rocky Mountain Showdown). Nevada isn't exactly in its glory days of the pistol offense with Colin Kaepernick at the helm anymore, but they should be good enough to take down a bad Colorado State squad.

Kansas State at Iowa State (+1.5) -- The Cyclones almost got the better of Kansas in Lawrence last week, but missed three field goals gave them the L. The key takeaway from that game was how well the defense played, and they'll take out their frustrations on the Wildcats at home in Ames this weekend.

Oregon (-13) at Arizona -- Tucson has been somewhat of a field of horrors for the Ducks over the past decade, but this year's squad looks determined after that opening bludgeoning at the hands of Georgia. Since then they've outscored opponents 200-102. Arizona is improved, but their three wins have come against a subpar San Diego St. team, FCS North Dakota St., and hapless Colorado.  

NFL Game of the Week: Steelers at Bills (-14) -- The Bills came back from a 20-3 deficit in rainy Baltimore last week, winning on a walk-off field goal and cementing their status as the best team in the AFC (NFL?). The Steelers finally made the switch to rookie QB Kenny Pickett, but that offensive line is in shambles and a trip to Buffalo to face that defensive front is not the remedy.

Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.